Mati Diop

French actress and film director

For the Senegalese footballer, see Maty Diop.

Mati Diop

Born|  (1982-06-22) 22 June 1982 (age 41)

Paris, France

Occupations|

* Filmmaker
* actress

Years active| 2004–present
Parent(s)| Wasis Diop
Christine Brossard
Relatives| Djibril Diop Mambéty (uncle)

Mati Diop (born 22 June 1982) is a French-Senegalese filmmaker and actress who starred in the 2008 film 35 Shots of Rum. She also directed the 2019 film Atlantics, for which she became the first biracial female director to be in contention for the Cannes Film Festival's highest prize, the Palme d'Or.[1][2] At Cannes, Atlantics won the Grand Prix.[3] She also won awards for her short film, Mille Soleils (2013), Snow Canon (2011) and Dahomey (2024).

## Early life[edit]

Diop was born in Paris, France, and is a member of the prominent Senegalese Diop family. Her father, Wasis Diop, is a Senegalese musician and her mother, Christine Brossard, is an art buyer and photographer. She is the niece of prominent Senegalese filmmaker Djibril Diop Mambéty. During her childhood she often traveled back and forth between France and Senegal, developing a transnational identity.[4]

## Education[edit]

Mati Diop trained in the Advanced Degree Program at Le Fresnoy National Studio of Contemporary Art in France,[5] as well as at The Palais de Tokyo in their experimental artist studio space Le Pavillon.[6]

Diop studied at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study from 2014 to 2015.[6] While a part of the institute's selective Film Study Center Fellowship Program, she wrote the script for her first feature film Fire, Next Time.[6] She later changed the title of this film to what is now known as her directorial feature film debut, Atlantics (2019).[7]

## Career[edit]

### Directing[edit]

Mati Diop made her directorial debut in 2004 with her short film Last Night (2004).[8] Her short film Atlantiques (2009) won the Rotterdam International Film Festival's Tiger Award for Short Film, and a Top Prize at Media City Film Festival during her first North American appearance in 2009.

Her documentary short Mille Soleils[9] was released in 2013. The film focused on actor Magaye Niang, who was the star of Diop's uncle's seminal feature Touki Bouki (1973) and explained how he had come to live as a farmer in the intervening years.[10] The film played at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and was later also programmed at the Museum of Modern Art in 2014.[11]

In 2019, she became the first black female director to have her film premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival when her feature debut Atlantics was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or.[7] She was one of only four women accepted into the festival in the given year.[1] The film was a fictional adaptation of her documentary short Atlantiques made in 2009 that followed two friends from Senegal as they made a life-threatening boat crossing to Europe.[12] The film won the Grand Prix. It was picked up by Netflix shortly following Cannes' award announcements.[13]

Diop directed a documentary, In My Room, as part of Miu Miu's Women's Tales series, which blended audio recordings of her maternal grandmother, Maji, with footage Diop shot of herself in her Parisian apartment during the time she was quarantined during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mati Diop's work has also been featured at the Venice Film Festival, the New York Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival in 2012, and the Valdivia International Film Festival,[6] as well as the Museum of the Moving Image in 2013.[11]

In 2024, she won the Golden Bear at the Berlinale with the documentary, Dahomey, devoted to the question of the restitution by France of works of art stolen from Dahomey, present-day Benin.[14]

### Acting[edit]

Diop made her acting debut in Claire Denis' film 35 Shots of Rum (2008), playing the lead role of a young woman in a close-knit relationship with her father, whom she has trouble leaving as she gets ready for marriage. She received a nomination for the Lumières Award for most promising actress for her role in the film.[11] In 2012, she appeared in the film Simon Killer and was also credited with the story behind the script.[15] Diop continues to act sporadically in films and television.

## Artistry and themes[edit]

In their article on Diop's work up to Atlantics (2019), Lindsay Turner states that Diop's work is often concerned with trans-nationalism, immigration, the female experience, and post-colonialism in relation with North Africa and Europe.[16]In order to start work on Atlantics,she began traveling to Senegal to reconnect with her African heritage. She says she found her voice in those journeys — and in her own French-Senegalese hyphenated identity. [17] In an interview with Metal Magazine, Diop explains that she tackles cinematics and poetic aspects of her film with different perspectives due to the contrasting "sensibilities" of French and African cultures.[18]

Additionally, Diop is known to use aspects of magical realism in her films, examples including Atlantics (2019), Snow Cannon (2011), and Big in Vietnam (2012).[19] Diop can also be quoted talking about her storytelling processes, notably on how she uses sets and props to convey her plots as opposed to just characters and dialogue.[16] During additional interviews, Diop has mentioned that she has done a majority of her own cinematography and is deeply interested in multiculturalism and multilingualism in film, as her films are often in two to three different languages.[20][16]

## Filmography[edit]

### Acting[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2008  | 35 Shots of Rum | Joséphine  |
2010  | Yoshido (Les autres vies) | Amy  |
A History of Mutual Respect |  | Short film
2011  | La collection | Jehanne  | Episode: "Bye Bye"
Sleepwalkers |  |
Another World | Sita  | Television film
2012  | Simon Killer | Victoria / Noura  |
Fort Buchanan: Hiver |  | Short film
2014  | Fort Buchanan | Justine  |
L for Leisure | Stacey  |
2016  | Hermia & Helena | Danièle  |
2022  | Both Sides of the Blade | Gabrielle  |

### Filmmaking[edit]

Year  | Title  | Director | Writer | Cinematographer | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

2004  | Last Night | Yes  |  |  | Short film
2006  | Île artificielle - Expédition | Yes  |  |  | Short film
2009  | Atlantiques | Yes  |  | Yes  | Documentary short
2011  | Sleepwalkers | No  | No  | Yes  |
Snow Canon | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Short film
2012  | Simon Killer | No  | Yes  | No  |
Big in Vietnam | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Short film
2013  | Les Apaches | No  | No  | No  | Costume designer
Mille Soleils | Yes  |  | Yes  | Documentary short
2014  | Les 18 du 57, Boulevard de Strasbourg | Yes  |  |  | Short film; co-director (Collectif des Cinéastes Pour les Sans-Papiers)
2015  | Liberian Boy | Yes  |  | Yes  | Short film; co-directed with Manon Lutanie
2017  | Olympus | Yes  |  |  | Short film
2019  | 30 (+) films pour la 30ème (Segment: "Untitled")  | Yes  | Yes  |  | Documentary; also editor and producer
Atlantics | Yes  | Yes  | No  |
2020  | In My Room | Yes  | Yes  |  | Documentary short
2021  | Wasis Diop - Voyage à Paris | Yes  |  | Yes  | Music video
2024  | Dahomey | Yes  | Yes  |  | Documentary

## Accolades[21][edit]

Awards and Nominations  Year  | Festival  | Awards  | Film  | Result

|
|
|
|

2010  | Cinèma du Rèel  | Louis Marcorelles Award - Mention  | Atlantiques | Winner
2011  | Venice Film Festival | Queer Lion  | Snow Cannon | Nominee
2010

2012

| Rotterdam International Film Festival | Tiger Award for Short Film

Tiger Award for Short Film

| Big in Vietnam

Atlantiques

| Winner

Winner

2013  | Amiens International Film Festival  | Prix du Moyen mètrage  | Mille Solelies | Winner
2013  | CPH:DOX | New Vision Award  | Nominee
2013  | Montréal Festival of New Cinema  | Loup Argenté  | Winner
2014  | Black Movie Film Festival  | Critics Prize  | Winner
2014  | IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival  | Short Film Grand Prize  | Winner
2019  | Boston Society of Film Critics Awards  | BSFC Award: Best New Filmmaker  | Atlantics | Nominee
2019  | Camerimage  | Best Directorial Debut  | Nominee
2019 | Cannes Film Festival | Grand Prize of the Jury | Won[22]
Palme d'Or | Nominated[23]
Caméra d'Or | Nominated
2019  | Carthage Film Festival  | Tanit d'Argent

Tanit d'Or

| Winner

Nominee

2019  | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards  | Milos Stehlik Award: Most Promising Filmmaker  | Nominee
2019  | Denver International Film Festival  | Krzysztof Kieslowski Award: Best Feature Film  | Nominee
2019  | European Film Awards | European Film Award: European Discovery  | Nominee
2019  | Ghent International Film Festival  | Grand Prix: Best Film  | Nominee
2019  | Greater Western New York Film Critics Association Awards  | GWNYFCA Award: Breakthrough Director  | Nominee
2019  | Hamptons International Film Festival  | Golden Starfish Award: Narrative Feature  | Nominee
2019  | Indiewire Critics' Poll  | IPC Award: Best First Feature  | Winner
2019  | Key West Film Festival  | Critics' Choice Award  | Winner
2019  | London Film Festival  | Sutherland Award: First Feature Competition  | Winner
2019  | Mumbai Film Festival  | International Competition: Golden Gateway Award  | Nominee
2019  | Odyssey Awards  | Odyssey Award: Breakthrough Director  | Nominee
2019  | Pingyao International Film Festival  | People's Choice Award: Best of Fest - Best Film  | Nominee
2019  | Prix Louis Delluc  | Prix Louis Delluc: Best First Film  | Nominee
2019  | San Sebastián International Film Festival  | Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Prize  | Nominee
2019  | Stockholm Film Festival  | Impact Award  | Nominee
2019  | Toronto Film Critics Association Awards  | TFCA Award: Best First Feature  | Nominee
2019  | Women Film Critics Circle Awards  | WFCC Award: Best Woman Storyteller  | Nominee
2020  | Austin Film Critics Association  | AFCA Award: Best First Film  | Nominee
2020  | Black Reel Awards  | Outstanding Director, Motion Picture.

Outstanding Emerging Director.

Outstanding First Screenplay.

| Nominee
2020  | Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US  | Heterodox Award  | Nominee
2020  | Cèsar Awards, France  | Cèsar: Best First Film  | Nominee
2020  | Directors Guild of America, USA  | DGA Award: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Feature Film  | Nominee
2020  | Gold Derby Awards  | Gold Derby Award: Foreign Language Film  | Nominee
2020  | Image Awards (NAACP)  | Image Award: Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film)  | Nominee
2020  | International Cinephile Society Awards  | ICS Award: Best Debut Feature  | Nominee
2020  | Lumiere Awards, France  | Lumiere Award: Best First Film  | Nominee
2020  | Online Film and Television Association  | OFTA Film Award: Best Feature Debut  | Nominee
2020  | Online Film Critics Society Awards  | OFCS Award: Best Debut  | Nominee
2020  | Palm Springs International Film Festival | Directors to Watch

FIPRESCI Prize

| Winner

Nominee

2024 | Berlin International Film Festival | Golden Bear | Dahomey | Won[24]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Meet the First Biracial Female Director in the Cannes Competition". The Hollywood Reporter. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
2. ^ Page, Thomas (2019-05-21). "Cannes 2019: 'Atlantics' director Mati Diop is the first biracial female contender for the Palme d'Or". CNN Style. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
3. ^ Turan, Kenneth (25 May 2019). "Bong Joon-ho's 'Parasite' and Mati Diop's 'Atlantics' make history at Cannes Film Festival". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
4. ^ Mati Diop director of ATLANTICS in conversation with Reclaim the Frame, retrieved 2021-12-06
5. ^ "Festival Scope". pro.festivalscope.com. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
6. ^ a b c d "Mati Diop". Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
7. ^ a b Obenson, Tambay. "Meet the First Black Woman in the Cannes Competition Lineup: Mati Diop". IndieWire. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
8. ^ "Mati Diop | IFFR". iffr.com. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
9. ^ Rigoulet, Laurent (9 July 2013). ""Mille Soleils", de Mati Diop, découverte ensorcelante du Festival du documentaire de Marseille". Télérama (in French). Retrieved 27 April 2022.
10. ^ Scott, A. O. (19 January 2015). "Stuck, but Trying to Leave". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
11. ^ a b c "Mati Diop". YBCA. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
12. ^ Picard, Andréa (13 December 2013). "Film/Art : In the Realm of the Senses: Mati Diop on Mille soleils". Cinema Scope. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
13. ^ Obenson, Tambay (2019-05-25). "'Atlantics': Netflix's Aggressive Africa Push Continues With Acquisition of Cannes Grand Prix Winner". IndieWire. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
14. ^ "Berlinale: le documentaire "Dahomey" de Mati Diop remporte l'Ours d'or". TV5MONDE (in French). 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
15. ^ Lavallée, Eric (6 April 2013). "Interview: Mati Diop (Simon Killer)". ioncinema.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
16. ^ a b c Aguilar, Carlos. "A Language Possessed and Reconquered: Mati Diop on Atlantics | Interviews | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com/. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
17. ^ "'Atlantics' Is A Haunting Refugee Story — Of The Women Left Behind In Senegal". NPR. Archived from the original on 2023-05-12.
18. ^ "Mati Diop | Metal Magazine".
19. ^ "CruzID Gold Login - Stale Request". login.ucsc.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
20. ^ "Mati Diop | Metal Magazine".
21. ^ "Mati Diop". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
22. ^ "Bong Joon-ho's Parasite Wins the Palme d'Or at Cannes". Variety. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
23. ^ "Cannes festival 2019: full list of films". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
24. ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (24 February 2024). "Mati Diop's Dahomey bags the Berlinale Golden Bear". Cineuropa. Retrieved 25 February 2024.

## External links[edit]

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